The Art of Simon Ward
Simon Ward is a world-renown painter of automotive art. In the past 30+ years, Simon has painted mostly Formula 1 and 24 Hours of Le Mans race cars and drivers, but recently, Studio1203 commissioned him to paint a 1935 Auburn Supercharged Boattail Speedster for an upcoming documentary on the Auburn Automobile Company. Simon found he enjoyed painting classic and antique road cars and so begins a new phase in his artistic endeavors.
You can find his paintings and prints for sale here. All prints are signed and numbered, limited to only 50 examples.
If you see a painting that does not have an accompanying print, feel free to request one at geoff@thestudio1203.com. Requested prints are $225.00 each.
Lamborghini at I.C.E.
24 x 30 Painting $3,500.00
A 1966 Lamborghini Miura P400 sits on the ice at the International Concours of Elegance (I.C.E.) in St Moritz, Switzerland. The orange Miura featured in the opening scene of the 1969 movie, “The Italian Job”, won the Stars on Wheels Class. In the background is a classic Lamborghini Countach in Viola.
Marlene Dietrich Auburn
22 x 28 Painting $3,000.00
20 x 24 Signed/Numbered Archival Print $200.00
The 1935 Auburn 851 Supercharged “Boattail Speedster” is perhaps the most famous of Auburn cars, and also one of the more iconic Art Deco era automobiles. The bumper drops down in the center framing the dramatic chrome grille in typical Auburn fashion and the swooping fenders are pierced by giant metal exhaust pipes that snake out from the side of the hood to help the large engine breathe. The exclusive 851 exudes an air of flamboyance, but it was more than just a statement of wealth, in 1932 an Auburn breached 100-mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The later-model 851 Supercharged featured a 4.5L flathead straight eight-cylinder engine paired with other technical advancements such as a dual-ratio rear axle. This specific pale yellow Speedster served as the chosen car of Marlene Dietrich in the 1935 film, “Desire”, directed by Frank Borzage. Pictured with Dietrich at the wheel, powering through carefully reconstructed period Los Angeles at Wilshire Boulevard and Westwood Avenue, it’s easy to imagine the unknown residents of Hollywood turning heads to watch the elegant car and driver pass, a dramatic standout from the row of lesser coupes trailing behind.
Red Auburn
24 x 30 Painting $3,000.00
20 x 24 Signed/Numbered Archival Print $200.00
The 1935 Auburn 851 Supercharged “Boattail Speedster” is perhaps the most famous of Auburn cars and also one of the more iconic Art Deco era automobiles. Although the artist had not originally planned a second Auburn Boattail painting, it was determined to be a necessity in order to highlight the iconic boattail shape itself, dressed in eye-catching bright red. The exclusive 851 exudes an air of flamboyance, but it was more than just a statement of wealth, in 1932 an Auburn breached 100-mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The later-model 851 Supercharged featured a 4.5L flathead straight eight-cylinder engine paired with other technical advancements such as a dual-ratio rear axle. The hilltop Griffith Observatory was selected as the setting for this flashy Speedster, positioned on a cliff overlooking the evening-hour panorama of an older Los Angeles skyline. The Griffith Observatory, also built in 1935 and also in the Art Deco style, is representative of the growing interest in space, flight and motion, which remained a theme in automobile design from the streamlining of the 1930s throughout the mid-century period.
Delahaye 175
24 x 30 Painting $3,500.00
20 x 24 Signed/Numbered Archival Print $200.00
This one of a kind 1949 Delahaye 175S Saoutchik Roadster represents the pinnacle of post-war French fashion and luxury. The artist was originally drawn to this car because of his background focused on aerodynamic racing cars; with sweeping lines that exude a sense of speed and elegance, the unique Saoutchik bodywork is distinctive partly because of the elements shared with high performance racing cars. Additionally, Art Deco chrome accents grace almost every surface of this brightly-colored Delahaye, and an excess of chrome highlighting the fenders is intended to draw the eye down from the actual height of the car. The “narwhal” nose, similar to Figoni-Falaschi cars of the period, pushes the front forward, and the overall streamlined form appears to be hurtling through space, even at standstill. The covered wheels blur the distinction between what on other cars are separate fender and body lines, and also distort the overall scale – this dramatic two-seat coupe is actually almost 16′ long, which is nearly as large as most full-size sedans of the era. The setting along Highway 1 in California adjacent to the Bixby Creek Bridge was chosen for the dramatic height of the Art Deco bridge (built in 1932), which both complement and contrast the low-slung streamlined roadster.
Duesenberg Model J
24 x 30 Painting $3,500.00
20 x 24 Signed/Numbered Archival Print $200.00
Introduced in 1928, just before the stock market crash, this excessively expensive, low-volume motorcar suffered from bad timing. Fortunately there were enough blue-blooded aristocrats and Hollywood elites to keep the Model J alive and in production for nearly a decade. It was cleverly engineered and lavishly equipped, making it an obvious status symbol, intended to rival the size, power, and luxury of top European brands such as Hispano-Suiza and Rolls-Royce.
“The idea of setting a painting at a horse racing course came first and the Duesenberg Model J was high up the list of cars a successful horse owner would drive. Combining the two wasn’t easy, very careful placement of the horse and trainer was required to begin with and then adding more to the background to bring the whole painting to life and bring the car out.”
Duesenberg Model J in Winter
24 x 30 Painting $3,500.00
20 x 24 Signed/Numbered Archival Print $200
This image was selected for 2021 Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum Christmas card.
The newly revived Duesenberg Company debuted the Model J on December 1st, 1928 at the New York Car Show. In Europe, it was launched at the Salon de l’automobile de Paris in 1929. The first example, as displayed in New York, was a LeBaron sweep panel dual cowl phaeton, finished in silver and black. By the time of the Great Depression, in October 1929, the Duesenberg Company had only built some 200 cars. An additional 100 orders were filled in 1930. The Model J fell well short of the original goal to sell 500 cars per year. In fact, it took eight years and several iterations to dispatch a mere 480 cars. The Model J was actually obsolete after only a few years, retaining the crash gearbox (non-synchromesh transmission) through the end of its run. E.L. Cord advertised 265hp to best the similarly inflated claim of 250hp for the concurrent, limited-production Mercedes-Benz.
“The painting is set in the 1930’s after a snowfall. The house was built in the 1880’s and is on Millionaires Row in Williamsport, PA. It is now the Backhouse Cafe, if you ever visit, and is owned by some great friends who allowed me to paint on the second story patio overlooking the entrance. I liked the potential of producing a Duesenberg set in winter. It was the last painting produced for an AACA exhibition in Hershey, PA and the paint had barely dried when it was chosen for the front of a Christmas card by the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, IN.”
Two Classic Alfa Romeos
24 x 30 Painting $3,500.00
20 x 24 Signed/Numbered Archival Print $200.00
A 1931 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Zagato sits by the side of the road as a 1966 Alfa Romeo Spider Duetto passes by. The painting is set on the Via Panisperna in Monti, Rome with the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in the background.
Alberto Ascari
20 x 24 Painting $3,000.00
Alberto Ascari in the Ferrari 500 on the way to winning the 1952 Belgian Grand Prix at a wet, Spa-Francorchamps track. Ascari led all but one lap, with Ferrari team-mate, Nino Farina, following him all the way for a Ferrari 1-2. Ascari won by 1 minute, 55 seconds and had the fastest lap on his way to the chequered flag.
Tazio Nuvolari
20 x 24 Painting $3,000.00
An Alfa Romeo 8C Monza at the 1933 Monaco Grand Prix. Tazio Nuvolari is still one of the most revered racing drivers of all time. Beginning in motorcycles, he moved to race cars and became known as “Il Mantovano Volante” (the Flying Mantuan). He won 72 major races including 24 Grands Prix, 5 Coppa Cianos, 2 Mille Miglias, 2 Targa Florio, 2 RAC Tourist Trophies and a win at Le Mans.
Jody Scheckter
20 x 24 Painting $3,000.00
At the 1979 Monaco Grand Prix, Jody Scheckter took pole over his Ferrari teammate, Gilles Villeneuve. Scheckter maintained the lead throughout the entire race, challenged only by Villeneuve before his transmission failed and Clay Regazonni on the final lap. It was Scheckter’s second chequered flag of the season.
Ayrton Senna
20 x 24 Painting $3,000.00
Senna takes his Lotus 97T to victory in the 1985 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. It was his second win in Formula One and the first of five victories Ayrton would take at Spa. He led every lap apart from the pit stop to change from wet tyres to slicks as the race had been declared wet at the start, but dried far quicker than anyone had thought. The rain would return toward the end of the race, too, but Ayrton eventually finished 28 seconds in front of Nigel Mansell in his Williams.
Schumacher in the Wet
20 x 24 Painting $3,000.00
In 1997, Michael Schumacher wins a wet-weather race in Monaco. Starting second at a track that is difficult to pass on, the rain, expected to produce several race-retirements, proved to be Schumacher’s saving grace. It was a dominating win, his first win of the season
Lewis Hamilton
20 x 24 Painting $3,000.00
On the 20th of May, 2019, 3-time World Champion, Niki Lauda passed away. At the Monaco Grand Prix of that year, all of the teams paid tribute to Lauda, Mercedes by painting their halos red. It was fitting that Lewis Hamilton took a lights-out to chequered flag victory. Having been given a 5 second penalty, Max Verstappen closed in on Hamilton throughout the second half of the race, but on lap 76 of 78, they made contact, both missing the chicane. Hamilton remained ahead until the finish.
2019 Italian Grand Prix
22 x 28 Painting $3,000
To the delight of the devoted Tifosi, Charles Leclerc took his second victory in a row for the season at Monza. Leclerc led away from pole and once the pit stops were complete, he continued to lead despite challenges from both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas in their Mercedes’, who at times were as little as one second behind. It was Ferrari’s first victory in Italy since Fernando Alonso in 2010.
2021 Monaco Grand Prix
24 x 30 Painting $3,000.00
Having had his best qualifying of the season, Lando Norris, driving the iconic Gulf colours on his McLaren MCL35M, finished on the podium, in 3rd place. The closing laps saw Sergio Perez in his Red Bull Honda challenge for the position, but Lando managed to hold off Sergio until the end. It was a memorable finish for the young British driver and a star of the future.
Charles Leclerc – Bahrain 2022
20 x 24 Painting $3,000.00
Charles started on pole with Max Verstappen in second. It was a hard fought battle, but Leclerc maintained position throughout, eventually taking the chequered flag, with Ferrari teammate, Carlos Sainz, Jr in second, when Verstappen dropped out with power unit issues.
1925 Rolls-Royce “Round Door” Phantom I
For the Peterson Museum
This is the most ostentatious, and the coolest, Rolls-Royce you are ever likely to set eyes on! This “one of one” Rolls measures an astonishing 20 feet, in fact, just over, is 6 feet high and weighs just under 3 tons. The Art Deco car began as a 1925 Phantom I and in 1934, Belgian Henri Jonckheere turned it into one of the most beautifully extravagant cars the world has seen.
The E-Type Jaguar
Painting *SOLD*
The iconic Jaguar E-Type on the streets of London in the 1960’s. Throughout the last 60 years, it has been ranked as one of, if not the, most beautiful car in the world. Even Enzo Ferrari is believed to have described it as, “The most beautiful car ever made.” It encapsulated the era and everyone wanted one, from Steve McQueen, Tony Curtis, George Best and even Frank Sinatra, who is rumoured to have visited the New York Auto Show launch in 1961. “I want that car and I want it now.”
I decided to go with Brigitte Bardot, another 60’s icon, driving it through the London traffic, surrounded by red buses, black cabs and Trafalgar Square.
Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado Brougham
Painting *SOLD*
This stunning, jewel-tone 1957 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado Brougham set the tone for mid-century flair and style. The ’57-’58 Eldorado Brougham remains one of the most costly and luxurious cars ever produced by General Motors. Pictured in busy and bright Times Square in New York City with authentic period elements throughout, it serves as one of the first explorations for the painter into American car design of the era, which featured massive bodies draped in decorative chrome at every corner, with airplane-inspired features like turbine-style wheels and enormous tailfins at the rear. The Eldorado Brougham, of which only 704 such examples were ever built, was destined for ownership by the likes of Frank Sinatra and other exclusive upper-class titans of business and famous celebrities. The most distinctive feature is certainly a full stainless steel roof, followed closely by the suicide doors and pillar less four-door hardtop look with all of the windows down. This car was the first General Motors car to feature “quadlamps” (four separate headlights), setting the trend for the next 30-plus years of Cadillac design.
1931 Monaco Grand Prix
Painting *SOLD*
There were 16 Bugatti’s entered in the Monaco Grand Prix of 1931, one of which was driven by Louis Chiron. Chiron’s car is seen here, waiting before the race, with Ettore Bugatti talking to the crowd. It would be an incredible drive for Chiron, having started slowly but setting new lap records as he climbed through the field. He would take the chequered flag 5 minutes ahead of Luigi Fagioli’s Maserati.
Steve McQueen “Bullitt”
Painting *SOLD*
Steve McQueen as Frank Bullitt with the 1968 Ford Mustang GT Fastback that he drove in the movie, “Bullitt”. McQueen, being a world-class race-car driver, drove the Bullitt Mustang in all driver-visual scenes himself. The car is one of the most famous in movie history and the car chase scenes are now classic and revolutionized Hollywood’s standards at the time.
“I painted this as both a challenge and for fun. It is good to know what can be achieved at the easel beyond what is typically imagined each time a blank canvas is placed before you.”
Jackie Stewart
Painting *SOLD*
Jackie Stewart, in a Tyrrell-Ford, took the pole by over a second over Jacky Ickx and his Ferrari in the 1971 Monaco Grand Prix. He led every lap and posted the fastest lap on his way to the chequered flag, even though he was suffering ill effects from petrol fumes in the cockpit. Here, Jackie is being chased by Jo Siffert in a BRM and Ickx. The 1971 Monaco Grand Prix was the 200th grand prix since the inception of the World Championship in 1950.
